And now when the higher life and progress of Japan would undoubtedly have been stifled under the despotic rule of the daimios and shoguns, there appeared on the scene certain Portuguese trading vessels, closely followed by a band of Roman-Catholic priests, headed by the famous St. Francis Xavier, who were invited by the then dominant shogun, Nobunga, to set forth the merits of their religion.
The Christian priests and Buddhist monks met in the council hall of the military despot, and joined in long discussions on the doctrines of their respective religions before rapt and discriminating audiences. Christianity obtained a firm and vital hold on the affections of the Japanese. The Christian priests were not only encouraged to remain, but a church and monastery were built for them, wherein to teach an preach the doctrines of their church. It is impossible to describe the joy with which these priests were heard, or the enthusiasm with which the people flocked to the little Christian temple, bringing their children with them, to be instructed and baptized in the name of Christ.
The Japanese Christian, with that manly independence which knows no shame in professing a new religion, rejoiced openly in the purity, beauty and freedom of the Gospel. Many and many a noble embraced Christianity, and at last Christian societies were formed in several of the great cities, and imperial Rome began to consider the subjugation of the whole island to Portugal.
But the despotic spirit of the shoguns, which had been softened by the influence of Christianity, suddenly revived and kindled into hatred of the new religion. In spite of the Portuguese missionaries having placed themselves under the protection of certain powerful Christian nobles, they were seized, and nine were burned alive at Nagasaki. Nevertheless the new religion continued to attract converts from all parts of the island, and found protection during one or two of the succeeding reigns.
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From General Nelson A. Miles
Thrilling Stories of The Russian-Japanese War, 1904
